Ally
Member
Registered: 2nd Jul 03
Location: Pontypool Drives: a Skoda
User status: Offline
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Ok, here goes
This is my garden now -
I hate it. We have since demolished the garage, and i have a pile of rubble there now. Over easter i am putting up a 6 foot fence on the right hand side, and i have a skip being delivered to get rid of the rubble.
After that the plan is to concrete the old garage and turn it into a parking spot. We are fencing to the right, and then round the old garage (i am still in two minds as to leaving a gap, if you look at the pic you can see a set of stairs leading down from the back of the garage - maybe fence it all off round the space and have a gate fitted there so when we park we can just come in that way)
I need ideas on what to do with the rest of the garden, as you can see i dont have much to work with  the concrete area out the back drives me nuts as its so anti garden/relaxing!
Eventually i'd like to recess those steps as they are so steep (have slipped twice now when its been wet!)
So need ideas for the grassed area behind the garage, and the concreted area by the house, nothing too expensive!
Sorry for th essay but when it comes to house im good, when it comes to gardens i dont have a fking clue  
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drunkenfool
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Registered: 7th Feb 03
Location: Hereford Drives: Audi R8 V8
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Couldn't you put a raised pond near where those bricks are now (unless you want it ground level, just more digging involved!). Rip up those slabs for a start and replace it with a stonechip path or something?
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drunkenfool
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Registered: 7th Feb 03
Location: Hereford Drives: Audi R8 V8
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and that concreted area you could lay sand down and put slabs ontop, or even decking if you wanted, andrender/paint the walls?
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Ally
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Registered: 2nd Jul 03
Location: Pontypool Drives: a Skoda
User status: Offline
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Ive pained the walls with creamy masonry paint, i have been thinking about having a pond up against the back of the garage, maybe 1 foot deep with 2 foot raised with some nice bricks but how exactly do i do it?
I think, dig hole, build walls, fill with sand, line, fill with water and ta da but im sure its not that easy
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Brett
Premium Member
Registered: 16th Dec 02
Location: Manchester
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I think you should turn it into 6 tiny allotments and lease them to old people who in turn will pay you with free veg.
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AK
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Registered: 5th Jul 00
Location: Aberdeen City
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re-build a garage
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Ally
Member
Registered: 2nd Jul 03
Location: Pontypool Drives: a Skoda
User status: Offline
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We aren't going to AK, dont have funds etc to do it as i plan on selling it next year to move to a nicer area, no point in spending the money on doing it when we are moving
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Rob_Quads
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Registered: 29th Mar 01
Location: southampton
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I would say there is almost more point to. Most places (not sure on your area) a garage is worth $$$ when it comes to selling. If it only costs 2K but adds 5K its worth doing. Specially if you know you are definatly moving, even a small loan to cover it would not be a silly move.
I would be supprised if you would not get your money back even on a basic garage i.e. wooden framework rather than brick
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Ally
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Registered: 2nd Jul 03
Location: Pontypool Drives: a Skoda
User status: Offline
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We are not having a garage, end of
We've already made 20 - 30k from rennovating the whole house and the moneys beginning to run out so we are doing all the little things (fencing, tidying up garden)
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shawboy
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Registered: 1st Jul 02
Location: Wombwell, Barnsley
User status: Offline
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my fence and decking need painting if anyone wants to do it?
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Colin
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Registered: 4th Apr 02
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I would clear the whole area inc steps, put in some decking on top level with a rail along the front & new timber steps down to the lower area where id have a brick BBQ Grill, maybe covered a bit so you can use in all seasons. then up the back just put down loads of chuckies (perfect for sticking a car on) and maybe a path if you feel the need. 6ft fence either side.
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drunkenfool
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Registered: 7th Feb 03
Location: Hereford Drives: Audi R8 V8
User status: Offline
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Ally, yeah, it pretty much is that simple, especially if you aren;t going for a proper koi pond with bottom drains, gravity fed filters etc etc. Mark out where the wall will go, make sure it is secure (has foundations, and thick enough to support the water) and then dig down inside the markings. Line the whole with sand to stop anything puncturing the liner, put in the liner and fill it up  Make some ledges in there for plants to stand on, maybe a waterfall. I will put ponds in any house that i live in for a reasonable amount of time, i dont like to be without one now!
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Ally
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Registered: 2nd Jul 03
Location: Pontypool Drives: a Skoda
User status: Offline
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Can i put fish in it if i just have it 3ft deep?
Looked outside today and it would be about 6/7ft x 3ft
Or even - could i put a pond down on the concreted bit by the back door? to the left of the stairs where it tucks behind the bathroom. Obviously build a supporting wall all the way round it, fill with soil to get the shelves for plants, sand, liner, and fill with water. I could grow ivy or somthing down that wall to cover the concrete, and use thicker edging along the top to cover the liner to make it wide enough to have as a little seat, that would be cheaper than having it up the top. Prolly 2 - 3ft deep, i dunno helpppp!
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Ally
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Registered: 2nd Jul 03
Location: Pontypool Drives: a Skoda
User status: Offline
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PS - tonight i removed all the rubble from the garage, i still have to dig another 2" or so down so it can be hardcored to park on, i am totally fucking nackered
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drunkenfool
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Registered: 7th Feb 03
Location: Hereford Drives: Audi R8 V8
User status: Offline
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Yes Ally, 3 foot is fine for fish, just if you want koi it should ideally be at least 4 foot, 5 foot recommended minimum really as they are a bit harder to look after and need more protection from the cold. That idea would work, having it to the left of the steps. but the only thing to consider with having lots of plants on that wall is that the dead leaves wil lfall into the pond in the autumn unless you dig them out. Not a bad idea though to be fair, wouldnt cost much in building materials as most of it is there already. Id say render the back wall smooth and paint it, decking or paving on the patio and do something with the steps too. If its in keeping with the rest of the house, why not make a japanesey style garden, paint the wall round the pond black, put some big red perpindicular lines around the place, maybe a symbol or two, and a few new trees. Def replace the path though on the right
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GT4Brody
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Registered: 26th Sep 01
Location: south
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That garage looked like asbestos? if so you should really get specialists in to remove it safely. You can do it yourself if you wear the correct ppe overalls masks etc, also it is hard to dispose of....
the dust can be very dangerous....on the other hand i could be barking up the wrong tree and it might just be wood or something 
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Ally
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Registered: 2nd Jul 03
Location: Pontypool Drives: a Skoda
User status: Offline
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If you read the garage has already been dismantled - and yeah i paid some guys to take the asbestos away
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Ally
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Registered: 2nd Jul 03
Location: Pontypool Drives: a Skoda
User status: Offline
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Im thinking now, get the fenches done and the grass trimmed (would be a start ) going to finish digging out the rest of the rubble and will pack the base with hardcore for now so we can at least park up there - will be fenced off anyway so i wont be able to see it
Going to build a 2 - 3ft pond tucked away in that little corner and have a small water feature in it as well (eg small tiled waterfall) so will build the base in brick, then i'll only need posh bricks for the bits you'll actually see. I'll build a shelf towards the back where the waterfall will be and put plants round it and small shelves towards the stairs
Want to keep the walls cream, good idea about the black matt, but i live in an old miners house so doesnt really suit. I really like the idea of au natural so will grow ivy or somthing down the wall and somthing up it, maybe with a hanging basket above the pond on the wall, or some lights of somthing
will either pave/shingle the concreted bit, with a small slabbed area for our bbq to the right by the wall, then a slabbed bit with somthing like this -
to the left in front of the bathroom
would like to have a pebbled path so will dig up the current one (eek) then put some nice borders in on the grassed bit and build the gates with the left over timber i have
... and keep reminding myself that i can't get it all done in a weekend and will probably take months for me to buy everything
Colin whats a chucky?
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drunkenfool
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Registered: 7th Feb 03
Location: Hereford Drives: Audi R8 V8
User status: Offline
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Sounds like a good plan Ally, keep us updated
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Ally
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Registered: 2nd Jul 03
Location: Pontypool Drives: a Skoda
User status: Offline
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Ill take some pics later once i've made my weak attempt at using the strimmer, and then pics once richies gone round and done it properly 
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Ally
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Registered: 2nd Jul 03
Location: Pontypool Drives: a Skoda
User status: Offline
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Pics so far -
Strimmed the grass, moved the rubble and put up fence post
My dads coming up tomorrow so we can get started 
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AndyKent
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Registered: 3rd Sep 05
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Looks much better....shame about next door
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mav
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Registered: 19th Jun 01
Location: Scotland
User status: Offline
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can't see any of the pics at work, will have a look at home..
Do you do all the work or does Richie help
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Ally
Member
Registered: 2nd Jul 03
Location: Pontypool Drives: a Skoda
User status: Offline
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I've done all the work on the house bar a few things, and same for garden i imagine
He does leccy/internet and things like that, and chips in for things. I like working on the house wheras he hates DIY with a passion so i dont mind
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Ally
Member
Registered: 2nd Jul 03
Location: Pontypool Drives: a Skoda
User status: Offline
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Did some more work today, gutted as ive lost 2 pics took yesterday in the day so only have the dark crappy onesssss!
Yesterday we fitted the panels, got one left to do at the end, then fence the yard bit by the back door and round the old garage base.
Tomorrow im hiring a cultivator to do the piece of grass behind the garage, needs to be ripped out and re layed, cant afford rolls of turf so seeding it
Seems to me like, with a garden you work your ass off all day to get things done, we had to dig up all the grass running along the fence to put the bedding plants in, it looks much better by god do my legs and back ache
Sorry they are so dark, will get some more tomoz once ive done another full day of back breakkinnggggg labourrrrrr
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